Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet signals the halfway point of this year's Summer of Arcade, which has so far produced the excellent action RPG Bastion and the equally brilliant God sim From Dust. While matching these titles may prove slightly too much for developers Fuelcell Games, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet certainly comes close. Comparisons have been made to classic games such as Castlevania and Metroid, while past Summer of Arcade favourites Limbo and Shadow Complex also appear to have had an influence. Fortunately, while it may not be wholly original, it still feels somewhat unique and is another strong addition to this year's Summer of Arcade.

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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a 2D side-scrolling game, pitting a tiny spaceship against a huge army of shadowy monsters. Comparisons to Metroid and Castlevania are fitting, as the game takes place on a huge map which is split into different zones. New objectives are marked on the map, alongside other points of interest, and it's up to the player to explore each area and unlock upgrades in order to progress. An early example sees one path blocked by a thick set of roots. After a brief detour, players unlock the raygun attachment which can be used to blast through the roots and into the next area.

Progression becomes increasingly difficult with the introduction of more and more complex puzzles.Throughout the course of the game, players must reflect a series of lasers to burn through blockages, find a way to transport heat-sensitive bombs over large areas, and guide missiles through narrow maze-like structures without hitting the walls. Bosses are often defeated with brains rather than firepower, with some of the more impressive battles combining bullet hell with brain teasers. The puzzle element is most welcome, and prevents Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet from turning into a mediocre shooter.

The game's visuals are equally as impressive and may remind some people of last year's excellent Limbo. It features the same minimalist style, utilising shadows and silhouette, although there is a far greater use of colour. The shadowy life forms that appear in the foreground and background are constantly animated and really help the planet to come alive, while each zone is bathed in a distinct colour scheme, adding a level of variety to proceedings. Unfortunately, zones are limited to rather conventional fire, ice and water backdrops, which further erodes the title's originality.

The minimalist theme extends to the narrative and storytelling. There are no cutscenes interrupting play or pages of text to sift through, just a quick opening cinematic chronicling the threat of the mysterious shadow planet. There are, however, various hidden artefacts that further explain the back story and origin of the shadow, which can be discovered by revisiting areas once you have collected certain upgrades. This works well as a plot device, complimenting the exploratory gameplay very well, and means that the more you put into exploring, the more you get out of the game.

Unfortunately, there are a few issues preventing Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet from hitting the heady heights of Bastion and From Dust. Powers and upgrades are accessed via a menu wheel, and seeing as how the action fails to pause, using the wheel during combat is especially difficult and quite fiddly - especially when surrounded by hordes of enemy ships. Players can assign four powers to the face buttons, but even this doesn't help when you want a shield, for example, and have to equip it with one button and then use it with another. Some of the puzzles, especially any involving lasers and crystals, are equally as clumsy and cumbersome, and may take a long time to conquer thanks to the awkward controls.

The campaign is also relatively short, potentially clocking in at around four hours, although it's likely to last much longer first time around thanks to the fiendish puzzles. There is however, an additional mode called Lantern Run, which scores players based on how far they can advance through a level with a lantern in tow. Chased by a huge monster, the game becomes a real juggling act, with players forced to drop the lantern to defeat enemies and open gates, before quickly retrieving it before the monster arrives and the light goes out. The mode can be played with up to four players locally or over Xbox Live and is actually very addictive, especially with four players each attempting to get the high score while simultaneously protecting the lantern.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is another highly entertaining and incredibly satisfying Summer of Arcade title. It features lots of excellent puzzles and some really memorable bosses, while the additional Lantern Run game mode ensures that there's enough here to warrant another visit. The stylish visuals compliment the well-executed action, resulting in a game that resembles past SOA favourites Limbo and Shadow Complex. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet isn't the most original game, but it offers a unique take on the formula found in classic platformers such as Metroid and Castlevania and is therefore a great addition to your digital library.